Resilient binding for skis



July 15, 1969 G. P. J. SALOMON RESILIENT BINDING FOR SKIS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.3

eor e a 7? 1f \5flL0f/0/Y INVENTOR Attorney July 15, 1969 p, J, SALOMON 3,455,570

RESILIENT BINDING FOR SKIS Filed Oct. 24, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

Qwryes :ZKSALO/VO/V A atorrvqy ite States Patent 3,455,570 RESILIENT BINDING FOR SKIS Georges P. J. Salomon, 34 Avenue de Loverchy,

Annecy, Haute-Savoie, France Filed Oct. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 678,166

Claims priority, application France, Oct. 28, 1966, 82,279; Aug. 24, 1967, 118,959 Int. Cl. A63c 9/20 US. Cl. 280--11.35 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The resilient binding for skis consists of a pivoting supporting plate pivotally mounted at its front end on a base plate fixed to the ski and of a boot retaining jaw pivotally mounted at the rear end of the pivoting plate. The pivoting plate comprises two springs transversely mounted and compressing a fixed element centrally mounted between each other to hold the pivoting plate in its normal position. The rotation of the pivoting plate causes one of the springs to be compressed against the fixed element which compels the pivoting plate to return to its normal position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention relates to a resilient binding for ski boots for holding and returning the boot in an axial position over the ski.

Description of the prior art Resilient bindings for skis positioned along the longitudinal axis of the ski are known but require a considerable space and their operations are not always satisfactory. Furthermore, these bindings have a complex and costly mechanism and require elastic means such as springs having a high degree of compression, their fulcrum being located on a very short lever arm.

In addition, when the locking elastic elements are transversely mounted, only one of them actuates the locking mechanism and this necessitates more space. The setting of this mechanism is more diflicult to adjust because it requires additional supporting means on the binding body, and these means increase the volume of the binding.

Similarly, these known bindings are provided with a plurality of levers pivoted on one or two axes having often a median position which is not clearly determined andthe release of the said levers is guided, controlled or limited by no specific member.

Summary of the invention The new binding overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages in a simple and eflicient manner.

According to the invention, the boot holding jaw pivoted on a pivoting plate or the like and guided by inclined planes of a base plate, is maintained and returned in a normal position by resilient elements such as two springs transversely mounted on the said pivoting plate, preferably on one axis, each of the said springs resting at their corresponding ends against an abutment of the pivoting plate, and, also, on a fixed element, which may be solidly fixed to the base plate through which slides an axle to adjustably maintain two cylindrical cups on which the outer ends of the springs rest.

When the boot jaw pivots, the two springs are simultaneously compressed, on one hand, against the cylindrical cups sliding on the pivoting plate and on their supporting axles, and on the other hand, one against the fixed element and the other against an abutment of the pivoting plate.

Preferably, in order to facilitate the operation of the mechanism, the fixed element, a connecting or setting axle slides, may be convexed on its surfaces contacting the springs or, preferably, may be oscillating about a trunnion.

Furthermore, at least one of the two cylindrical cups may be provided with a marker facing a graduated scale on the pivoting plate to indicate the tension of the springs, the latter resting against the fixed element while a pro tecting disc is interposed between them.

A further characteristic of the invention consists in that the boot holding jaw is maintained in a median position by a resilient device while the axle which holds the cylindrical cups is a setting screw rotating in the opening of one of the cylindrical cups and threaded in the threaded hole of the opposite cylindrical cup.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top View of the binding in the rest position with a part in section.

FIG. 2 is a view as shown in FIGURE 1 with the binding in a released position.

FIG. 3 is a top view, partially in section, of a different embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a top sectional view of a binding according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a view as shown in FIGURE 4 with the binding in a released position.

In FIG. 1, the boot holding jaw 1 is pivoted, about an axle 2, mounted on a pivoting supporting plate 3 which pivots about an axle 6 mounted on a base plate 7, the latter being solidly fixed to the ski 9 by screws 8. The pivoting plate 3 comprises in a chamber 10, two aligned springs 11, the latter compressing abutments 13 fixed to the pivoting plate by means of the discs 12, and equally resting against a fixed element which is solidly fixed to the base plate. A threaded rod 17 slides through the fixed element 16 to maintain in an adjustable manner by the head 18 of the rod, two cylindrical cups 19, which may be moved only in translation, on which rest the outer opposite ends of the springs 11. During abnormal stress of the boots as shown in FIGURE 2, the jaw 1, guided in its movements by projections 20 resting on the inclined planes 21, pushes back the pivoting plate 3 and then compresses the springs 11 between the cylindrical cups 19 and the disc 12, the latter resting, one against the abutment 13, the other, on the fixed element 16 through which slides the rod 17, the cylindrical cups 19 sliding in the chamber 10 of the pivoting plate 3. The plate 3 may rotate around the fixed element 16 due to the aperture 22 provided on its surface resting against the base plate 7. The structure and operation of the projections 20 and the planes 21 may be similar as described in United States Patent No. 3,037,785, issued on June 5, 1962.

In FIG. 3, the fixed element 30 is mounted about a pivot 31 and is compressed by the flanged disc 32 which completes the surrounding of the springs and protects them against the penetration of the snow, dust or other foreign matter. Furthermore, the cylindrical cups 33 and 34 are stopped from rotating by means of protrusions 35 which slide in grooves 36 in the pivoting plate and permit the adjustment of the mechanism by the rotation of the threaded rod 37. The rod 37 is threaded in the cylindrical cup 34 the latter comprising a marker 39 visible through a notch 38 in order to indicate the degree of tension of the springs.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, the boot holding jaw 41 is pivoted about an axle 42, mounted on a pivoting supporting plate 43, which rotates about an axle 46 mounted on the base plate 47 which is solidly fixed on the ski 9 by screws 8. As described in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the pivoting plate is provided, in its transversal chamber 48, with two springs 49 squeezed at one end by the disc 50 and at the other end by the cylindrical cups 51 and 52. The cylindrical cup 52 comprises an aperture through which the rod 53 and the other end are threaded in a blind threaded hole 56 of the cylindrical cup 51. This arrangement prevents the squeezing of the springs when the latter are adjusted and consequently prevent the blocking of the binding. In addition, the jaw 41, comprises a flat member 53 resting against the blade spring 56 which maintains the jaw in a median position and returns the jaw in this position after the release of the binding.

Furthermore, the rotation of the cylindrical cup 51, is prevented by a protrusion 57 on the said flask and which slides in the groove 58 in the pivoting plate 43.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the fixed element 16 of FIGURES l and 2, 30 of FIG- URE 3, or the one shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, may have a convex surface in contact with the disc 12, the flange disc 32 or the disc 50.

I claim:

1. A resilient binding for ski boots for holding and returning the boot in an axial position over a ski comprising:

a base plate adapted to be fixed on the ski,

a pivoting supporting plate pivotable at its front end on the base plate,

two compressible members mounted transversely on said pivoting plate and separated by an abutment solidly fixed to the said pivoting plate,

a connecting rod for resiliently retaining the two compressible members in an oppositely sliding relationship against the abutment,

an element solidly fixed to the base plate and protruding between the two compressing members,

a boot engaging jaw pivotally mounted at the rear end of the pivoting plate,

whereby the rotation of the boot about the axis of the ski causes the pivoting plate to pivot at its front end and causes the compressing members to be compressed by the said fixed element so as to return the boot in its axial position.

2. A binding as recited in claim 1, whereby each compressible member comprises a cylindrical cup and a disc resiliently spaced from each other by a spring, whereby the cylindrical cup is maintained at the end of the connecting rod and the disc is adapted to be compressed by the fixed element while the pivoting plate rotates.

3. A binding as recited in claim 1, wherein the jaw is resiliently held to the crank plate in a median position.

4. A binding as recited in claim 1, wherein a portion of the jaw rests against a fiat elastic element which is fixed to the pivoting plate, whereby the jaw will be re siliently maintained in a median position.

5. A binding as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one of the cylindrical cups is adjustably fixed along the axis of the rod.

6. A binding as recited in claim 5, wherein the adjustable cup comprises a graduated scale for indicating the compression of the compressing members.

7. A binding as recited in claim 2, wherein the cup is provided with a protrusion adapted to slide in a longitudinal groove provided in the pivoting plate so as to prevent rotation of the cup.

8. A binding as recited in claim 2, wherein the springs are coil springs aligned on the axle of the rod.

9. A binding as recited in claim 1, wherein the fixed element has concave surfaces to contact the compression members.

10. A binding as recited in claim 1, wherein the fixed element is oscillatingly mounted on a pivot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,037,785 6/1962 De Place 280-1135 3,029,085 4/1962 Berlenbach 2801l.35 3,348,854 10/1967 Marker et al 280-1135 LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner L. DANIEL MORRIS, JR., Assistant Examiner 

